Article
Agricultural Engineering
A. Dimitriadis, D. Liakos, U. Pfisterer, M. Moustaka-Gouni, D. Karonis, S. Bezergianni
Summary: This study found that hydrotreated pyrolysis oil can be miscible with different petroleum streams, and in some cases can even improve fuel characteristics, potentially allowing for its integration in oil refineries.
BIOMASS & BIOENERGY
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Jose Mario Londono Feria, Gloria Astrid Nausa Galeano, Dionisio Humberto Malagon-Romero
Summary: Waste cooking oil is an important feedstock for biofuel production due to its low cost and extensive availability. Pyrolysis of waste cooking oil can yield bio-oil with potential applications in biofuel or chemical solvent production.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Rui Diao, Yaojun Yang, Yakai Ma, Xifeng Zhu
Summary: This study explored a method of recycling the distillation residue of bio-oil by co-pyrolysis with walnut shell under CO2-induced atmospheres, investigating co-pyrolytic mechanism, kinetic responses, and product distribution. The results showed that the co-pyrolytic interaction suppressed high-temperature pyrolysis, with activation energy influenced by induced atmospheres and DR fractions, and CO2 mainly altering kinetic mechanisms at early stages.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2021)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Ann-Christine Johansson, Niklas Bergvall, Roger Molinder, Elena Wikberg, Mirva Niinipuu, Linda Sandstrom
Summary: Energy crops, such as Salix spp., can be used as feedstock for biofuel production. This study investigates the co-refining of pyrolysis oil from Salix with fossil oil using fluidized catalytic cracking and slurry hydro-processing technologies. Both methods achieved significant deoxygenation of the pyrolysis oil, with the hydro-processing route resulting in a higher biogenic carbon yield but requiring hydrogen input. The choice of route depends on factors such as available bio-oil and refining infrastructure.
BIOMASS & BIOENERGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Athanasios Dimitriadis, George Meletidis, Ulrich Pfisterer, Milos Auersvald, David Kubicka, Stella Bezergianni
Summary: The study demonstrates that by blending BioMates with LCO in hydroprocessing tests, the product quality meets the expected fuel properties, while effectively reducing hydrogen consumption.
FUEL PROCESSING TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Athanasios Dimitriadis, Loukia P. Chrysikou, George Meletidis, George Terzis, Milos Auersvald, David Kubicka, Stella Bezergianni
Summary: This study investigated the upgrading of pyrolysis bio-oil through mild hydrotreatment, finding that the longest catalyst life was achieved under specific operating conditions. Furthermore, several properties of the initial bio-oil were improved during the upgrading process.
Review
Chemistry, Analytical
Saumya Singh, Kamal K. Pant, Meena Krishania
Summary: Due to population growth and technological development, the demand for energy is increasing while current energy resources are limited. The manufacture of biofuels from renewable sources offers great potential and bio-oil production is considered a promising technology. This paper presents a comparative analysis of pyrolysis and hydrothermal liquefaction for bio-oil production, and discusses important concerns related to bio-oil from biomass.
JOURNAL OF ANALYTICAL AND APPLIED PYROLYSIS
(2023)
Review
Energy & Fuels
Anja Oasmaa, Jani Lehto, Yrjo Solantausta, Sirpa Kallio
Summary: The review summarizes VTT's development efforts in fast pyrolysis over the past 40 years, showcasing a wide range of feedstocks and products tested. Plastic wastes are currently seen as the most promising industrial opportunity in this field.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Shumei Zhang, Jianyun Xiong, Jiaxin Lu, Nan Zhou, Hui Li, Xian Cui, Qi Zhang, Yuhuan Liu, Roger Ruan, Yunpu Wang
Summary: In this study, CaO was prepared from waste eggshell, preserved egg shell, clam shell, and crab shell to catalyze pyrolysis of waste cooking oil. The results showed that eggshell and clam shell had higher CaO content and better pore properties. The effects of CaO type and catalytic mode on pyrolysis were studied, and different CaO types and catalytic modes produced different amounts of aromatics.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Gihoon Kwon, Dong-Wan Cho, Eilhann E. Kwon, Jorg Rinklebe, Hailong Wang, Hocheol Song
Summary: In this study, Fe-impregnated bentonite was used as a catalyst in the pyrolysis of grass cut to improve the production of syngas, the quality of bio-oil, and the sorptive property of biochar. The addition of Fe-impregnated bentonite significantly increased the production of H2 and CO, resulting in more homogeneous chemical species and higher sorption capacity in the produced bio-oil and biochar, respectively.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Rahmad Mohd Taib, Nurhayati Abdullah, Nur Syairah Mohamad Aziz
Summary: This study investigated the fast pyrolysis of banana pseudo-stem (BPS) to determine the optimal conditions for maximum liquid yield, finding that a pyrolysis temperature of 500°C and a residence time of 1.02 s were ideal. Under these conditions, a total liquid yield of 39.4% was achieved, with a high heating value of approximately 5.35 MJ/kg for the BPS liquid obtained. The BPS bio-oil was found to contain common functional groups and chemical compounds related to phenols.
BIOMASS & BIOENERGY
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Huei Yeong Lim, Shu Hui Tang, Yee Ho Chai, Suzana Yusup, Mook Tzeng Lim
Summary: This study investigated the co-pyrolysis of food and plastic wastes represented by MSW in a downdraft pyrolyzer using synthetic flue gas composition. The bio-oil yield and quality were determined by pyrolysis temperature and types of feedstocks. The bio-oil showed potential as an alternative fuel after further treatments and processing.
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES AND ASSESSMENTS
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Huei Yeong Lim, Shu Hui Tang, Yee Ho Chai, Suzana Yusup, Mook Tzeng Lim
Summary: The growing global population has led to an increased energy demand and generation of municipal solid wastes (MSW). This study investigated the co-pyrolysis of food and plastic wastes to produce green renewable fuels via pyrolysis technology. The results showed that the pyrolysis temperature and types of feedstocks had an impact on the bio-oil yield and quality. The bio-oil from this study has the potential to be used as an alternative fuel with further treatments and processing.
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES AND ASSESSMENTS
(2022)
Review
Energy & Fuels
S. O. Ilyin, V. V. Makarova
Summary: The paper reviews the history of production and application of bio-oil (pyrolysis oil), elaborates on its distinctions from other types of fuel and chemical feedstock, and discusses issues related to classifying and defining bio-oil and biofuel. It also describes the fundamental physicochemical properties of bio-oil and demonstrates their variability depending on the feedstock used. Finally, the paper outlines methods for obtaining bio-oil and modifying its properties in relation to its primary areas of use.
CHEMISTRY AND TECHNOLOGY OF FUELS AND OILS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Maria Eugenia Taverna, Carlos A. Busatto, Richard A. Pujro, Melisa Paola Bertero
Summary: This study introduces high school students to renewable energy and focuses on the pyrolysis process of converting lignocellulosic biomass into bio-oil. Through a series of straightforward experiments, students analyze outcome measurements such as yield calculations and temperature measurements. The generated bio-oils are evaluated by measuring their pH, density, and by separating water and ether components. Planar chromatography is used to analyze the composition of the bio-oils. This educational approach not only enhances students' understanding of pyrolysis and bio-oil characteristics but also cultivates their critical thinking and decision-making skills in the field of renewable energy.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Maurizio Pagano, Hector Hernando, Jennifer Cueto, Pedro L. Cruz, Javier Dufour, Ines Moreno, David P. Serrano
Summary: This study reveals how pretreatment of wheat straw with acetic acid solutions affects the biomass composition and pyrolysis product distribution. Acetic acid washing effectively removes alkali and alkaline-earth elements from the biomass ash and reduces the content of char and gas precursors, leading to a significantly increased yield and concentration of bio-oil*. The pretreatment also promotes the production of levoglucosan, a valuable precursor for biofuels and bio-based chemicals.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Daniele Candelaresi, Antonio Valente, Diego Iribarren, Javier Dufour, Giuseppe Spazzafumo
Summary: This research work presents an energy analysis and comparative environmental life cycle assessment of different passenger car fleets using renewable hydrogen and conventional fuel. The proposed strategies reduce carbon footprint by 7% to 35% compared to conventional fleets. The results suggest the energy and environmental suitability of using hydrogen blends as short-term solutions, paving the way for pure hydrogen mobility.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Mitja Mori, Diego Iribarren, Julie Cren, Emmanuelle Cor, Andrej Lotric, Jure Gramc, Laurent Rey, Felipe Campos-Carriedo, Gonzalo Puig-Samper, Eleonora Bargiacchi, Javier Dufour, Rok Stropnik
Summary: The EU-funded project eGHOST supports the eco (re)design of hydrogen-related products, specifically proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) stacks. A life cycle sustainability assessment (LCSA) of a PEMFC stack was conducted, showing that climate change is mainly attributed to platinum production. The study suggests ecodesign actions and the use of recycled platinum can reduce climate change impacts.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYDROGEN ENERGY
(2023)
Article
Thermodynamics
Igor De Las Heras Lopez, Julia Diaz Magdaleno, Javier Dufour, Baudilio Coto
Summary: Studying the solid-liquid equilibrium of mixtures containing solvents and fuel representative molecules is crucial in the hydrocarbon industry. The modified UNIFAC (Dortmund) model provides better predictions of the systems studied, while the COSMO-RS model shows a better fit with the experimental data.
JOURNAL OF THERMAL ANALYSIS AND CALORIMETRY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Ioan-Robert Istrate, Jose-Luis Galvez-Martos, Daniel Vazquez, Gonzalo Guillen-Gosalbez, Javier Dufour
Summary: A circular economy can benefit energy recovery from MSW incineration. The optimization framework highlights the optimal capacity, economics, and carbon footprint of MSW incineration over time. Results from the case study in Madrid show that ambitious recycling targets do not pose a risk of feedstock shortage for incineration. Intensive use of incineration is necessary to achieve landfill reduction goals, and the net cost could decrease with a shift in feedstock composition and the use of more efficient facilities. However, changes in waste composition and decarbonization efforts may increase the carbon footprint of incineration, reducing potential climate benefits.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Andres Sarrion, Enrique Medina-Martos, Diego Iribarren, Elena Diaz, Angel F. Mohedano, Javier Dufour
Summary: This study evaluated a novel strategy for food waste valorization from an environmental life-cycle perspective. The system, based on acid-assisted hydrothermal carbonization of food waste combined with the exploitation of hydrochar and nutrient recovery stage, showed better environmental performance compared to stand-alone anaerobic digestion. The use of hydrochar as a substitute for fossil fuels and the reduced impacts of soil application contribute to the promising circular economy concept for food waste valorization.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Editorial Material
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Jens F. Peters
Summary: Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a crucial method for assessing the potential environmental impacts of products over their entire lifespan. However, transparency and comparability issues often diminish the significance of LCA studies. This article provides recommendations for best practices in LCA, using batteries as an example.
NATURE SUSTAINABILITY
(2023)
Article
Thermodynamics
Abolghasem Kazemi, Jovita Moreno, Diego Iribarren
Summary: There is a growing concern about the environmental impacts of natural gas power plants. This paper simulates and assesses 11 alternatives of natural gas combined cycle power plants with different CO2 capture materials and potential ORC implementation. The results show that the system based on post-combustion CO2 capture with a-MDEA and ORC has a superior economic profile and better environmental performance in terms of climate change and fossil resource depletion.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Pedro L. Cruz, Javier Dufour, Diego Iribarren
Summary: A scoring dashboard is proposed as a practical solution to benchmark the environmental suitability of photocatalytic hydrogen production systems, which involves identifying and quantifying technical and environmental hotspots. A case study is implemented to assess different process configurations in terms of carbon footprint, focusing on sacrificial agent, power consumption, and direct CO2 emissions.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Pedro L. Cruz, Mario Martin-Gamboa, Khaoula Ben Hnich, Javier Dufour, Diego Iribarren
Summary: The use of biowaste to produce synthetic fuels is a proposed solution to address sustainability issues of conventional fossil fuels. This article revisits a previous case study on the life-cycle sustainability performance of synthetic biofuels from Tunisian date palm waste, and explores the effects of implementing renewable electricity and alternative oxygen. The results show slight decrease in total production costs but potential environmental trade-offs compared to the original system and conventional fossil fuels, highlighting the complexity of decision-making when considering multiple sustainability aspects.
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY & FUELS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Felipe Campos-Carriedo, Eleonora Bargiacchi, Javier Dufour, Diego Iribarren
Summary: In order to contribute to sustainability, fuel cells and hydrogen products need to be designed as sustainable options. This study tests the suitability of the EcoReport tool provided by the European Ecodesign Directive for assessing hydrogen-related products. The tool is found to be valuable for early assessment and development of ecodesign measures, but needs improvement in terms of data availability, criticality characterization factors, and impact assessment methods.
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY & FUELS
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Yingna Du, Chen Huang, Wei Jiang, Qiangwei Yan, Yongfei Li, Gang Chen
Summary: In this study, anionic surfactants modified hydrotalcite was used as a flow improver for crude oil under low-temperature conditions. The modified hydrotalcite showed a significant viscosity reduction effect on crude oil. The mechanism of the modified hydrotalcite on viscosity and pour point of crude oil was explored through characterization and analysis of the modified hydrotalcite and oil samples.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Mohammad Saeid Rostami, Mohammad Mehdi Khodaei
Summary: In this study, a hybrid structure, MIL-53(Al)@MWCNT, was synthesized by combining MIL-53(Al) particles and -COOH functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT). The hybrid structure was then embedded in a polyethersulfone (PES) polymer matrix to prepare a mixed matrix membrane (MMM) for CO2/CH4 and CO2/N2 separation. The addition of MWCNTs prevented MIL-53(Al) aggregation, improved membrane mechanical properties, and enhanced gas separation efficiency.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Yunlong Li, Desheng Huang, Xiaomeng Dong, Daoyong Yang
Summary: This study develops theoretical and experimental techniques to determine the phase behavior and physical properties of DME/flue gas/water/heavy oil systems. Eight constant composition expansion (CCE) tests are conducted to obtain new experimental data. A thermodynamic model is used to accurately predict saturation pressure and swelling factors, as well as the phase boundaries of N2/heavy oil systems and DME/CO2/heavy oil systems, with high accuracy.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Morteza Afkhamipour, Ebad Seifi, Arash Esmaeili, Mohammad Shamsi, Tohid N. Borhani
Summary: Non-conventional amines are being researched worldwide to overcome the limitations of traditional amines like MEA and MDEA. Adequate process and thermodynamic models are crucial for understanding the applicability and performance of these amines in CO2 absorption, but studies on process modeling for these amines are limited. This study used rate-based modeling and Deshmukh-Mather method to model CO2 absorption by DETA solution in a packed column, validated the model with experimental data, and conducted a sensitivity analysis of mass transfer correlations. The study also compared the CO2 absorption efficiency of DETA solution with an ionic solvent [bmim]-[PF6] and highlighted the importance of finding optimum operational parameters for maximum absorption efficiency.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Arastoo Abdi, Mohamad Awarke, M. Reza Malayeri, Masoud Riazi
Summary: The utilization of smart water in EOR operations has gained attention, but more research is needed to understand the complex mechanisms involved. This study investigated the interfacial tension between smart water and crude oil, considering factors such as salt, pH, asphaltene type, and aged smart water. The results revealed that the hydration of ions in smart water plays a key role in its efficacy, with acidic and basic asphaltene acting as intrinsic surfactants. The pH also influenced the interfacial tension, and the aged smart water's interaction with crude oil depended on asphaltene type, salt, and salinity.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Dongao Zhu, Kun Zhu, Lixian Xu, Haiyan Huang, Jing He, Wenshuai Zhu, Huaming Li, Wei Jiang
Summary: In this study, cobalt-based metal-organic frameworks (Co-based MOFs) were used as supports and co-catalysts to confine the NHPI catalyst, solving the leaching issue. The NHPI@Co-MOF with carboxyl groups exhibited stronger acidity and facilitated the generation of active oxygen radicals O2•, resulting in enhanced catalytic activity. This research provides valuable insights into the selection of suitable organic linkers and broadens the research horizon of MOF hybrids in efficient oxidative desulfurization (ODS) applications.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Edwin G. Hoyos, Gloria Amo-Duodu, U. Gulsum Kiral, Laura Vargas-Estrada, Raquel Lebrero, Rail Munoz
Summary: This study investigated the impact of carbon-coated zero-valent nanoparticle concentration on photosynthetic biogas upgrading. The addition of nanoparticles significantly increased microalgae productivity and enhanced nitrogen and phosphorus assimilation. The presence of nanoparticles also improved the quality of biomethane produced.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Yao Xiao, Asma Leghari, Linfeng Liu, Fangchao Yu, Ming Gao, Lu Ding, Yu Yang, Xueli Chen, Xiaoyu Yan, Fuchen Wang
Summary: Iron is added as a flocculant in wastewater treatment and the hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) of sludge produces wastewater containing Fe. This study investigates the effect of aqueous phase (AP) recycling on hydrochar properties, iron evolution and environmental assessment during HTC of sludge. The results show that AP recycling process improves the dewatering performance of hydrochar and facilitates the recovery of Fe from the liquid phase.
Article
Energy & Fuels
He Liang, Tao Wang, Zhenmin Luo, Jianliang Yu, Weizhai Yi, Fangming Cheng, Jingyu Zhao, Xingqing Yan, Jun Deng, Jihao Shi
Summary: This study investigated the influence of inhibitors (carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and heptafluoropropane) on the lower flammability limit of hydrogen and determined the critical inhibitory concentration needed for complete suppression. The impact of inhibitors on explosive characteristics was evaluated, and the inhibitory mechanism was analyzed with chemical kinetics. The results showed that with the increase of inhibitor quantity, the lower flammability limit of hydrogen also increased. The research findings can contribute to the safe utilization of hydrogen energy.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Zonghui Liu, Zhongze Zhang, Yali Zhou, Ziling Wang, Mingyang Du, Zhe Wen, Bing Yan, Qingxiang Ma, Na Liu, Bing Xue
Summary: In this study, high-performance solid catalysts based on phosphotungstic acid (HPW) supported on Zr-SBA-15 were synthesized and evaluated for the one-pot conversion of furfural (FUR) to γ-valerolactone (GVL). The catalysts were characterized using various techniques, and the ratio of HPW and Zr was found to significantly affect the selectivity of GVL. The HPW/Zr-SBA-15 (2-4-15) catalyst exhibited the highest GVL yield (83%) under optimized reaction conditions, and it was determined that a balance between Bronsted acid sites (BAS) and Lewis acid sites (LAS) was crucial for achieving higher catalytic performance. The reaction parameters and catalyst stability were also investigated.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Michael Stoehr, Stephan Ruoff, Bastian Rauch, Wolfgang Meier, Patrick Le Clercq
Summary: As part of the global energy transition, an experimental study was conducted to understand the effects of different fuel properties on droplet vaporization for various conventional and alternative fuels. The study utilized a flow channel to measure the evolution of droplet diameters over time and distance. The results revealed the temperature-dependent effects of physical properties, such as boiling point, liquid density, and enthalpy of vaporization, and showed the complex interactions of preferential vaporization and temperature-dependent influences of physical properties for multi-component fuels.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Yuan Zhuang, Ruikang Wu, Xinyan Wang, Rui Zhai, Changyong Gao
Summary: Through experimental validation and optimization of the chemical kinetic model, it was found that methanol can accelerate the oxidation reaction of ammonia, and methanol can be rapidly oxidized at high concentration. HO2 was found to generate a significant amount of OH radicals, facilitating the oxidation of methanol and ammonia. Rating: 7.5/10.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Radwan M. EL-Zohairy, Ahmed S. Attia, A. S. Huzayyin, Ahmed I. EL-Seesy
Summary: This paper presents a lab-scale experimental study on the impact of diethyl ether (DEE) as an additive to waste cooking oil biodiesel with Jet A-1 on combustion and emission features of a swirl-stabilized premixed flame. The addition of DEE to biodiesel significantly affects the flame temperature distribution and emissions. The W20D20 blend of DEE, biodiesel, and Jet A-1 shows similar flame temperature distribution to Jet A-1 and significantly reduces UHC, CO, and NOx emissions compared to Jet A-1.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Jiang Bian, Ziyuan Zhao, Yang Liu, Ran Cheng, Xuerui Zang, Xuewen Cao
Summary: This study presents a novel method for ammonia separation using supersonic flow and develops a mathematical model to investigate the condensation phenomenon. The results demonstrate that the L-P nucleation model accurately characterizes the nucleation process of ammonia at low temperatures. Numerical simulations also show that increasing pressure and concentration can enhance ammonia condensation efficiency.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Shiyuan Pan, Xiaodan Shi, Beibei Dong, Jan Skvaril, Haoran Zhang, Yongtu Liang, Hailong Li
Summary: Integrating CO2 capture with biomass-fired combined heat and power (bio-CHP) plants is a promising method for achieving negative emissions. This study develops a reliable data-driven model based on the Transformer architecture to predict the flowrate and CO2 concentration of flue gas in real time. The model validation shows high prediction accuracy, and the potential impact of meteorological parameters on model accuracy is assessed. The results demonstrate that the Transformer model outperforms other models and using near-infrared spectral data as input features improves the prediction accuracy.